Path of Exile 2’s Early Access phase has been underway since December 6, 2024, marking the arrival of this standalone sequel as a separate client with unique mechanics, physics, and combat systems. Looking ahead to 2026, the focus shifts to preparing for the 1.0 full release, with key updates across patches, classes, campaigns, and more. Before the full launch, we can expect PoE 2 0.5, 0.6, new leagues, classes and other additions.
PoE 2 Roadmap & Schedule 2026
Path of Exile 2 launched the major The Last of the Druids update on December 12, 2025, which introduces the shapeshifting Druid class (wolf, bear, wyvern forms), a new Ascendancy, fresh league mechanics, and a challenging Pinnacle boss. A Free Weekend from December 12 to 15, 2025 offered temporary free access for players on the fence. What major PoE 2 updates will come in 2026 and when will the full game become available?
PoE 2 0.5.0 Patch Release Date (Predicted: Mid-Late April 2026)
The Path of Exile 2 0.5 patch is expected to be a major update, focusing on long-awaited endgame revisions. The endgame rework was originally planned for the 0.4 patch but was postponed, so 0.5.0 will likely revamp the current mapping system. The existing endgame has issues where players face harsh death penalties while needing to increase difficulty for better rewards, and this update aims to fix this unbalanced experience. Regarding the release date of PoE 2 0.5 and new league, community speculation leans toward mid-late April 2026, based on historical league timelines: 0.1 (Dec 6, 2024), 0.2 (Apr 4, 2025), 0.3 (Aug 29, 2025), 0.4 (Dec 12, 2025). While GGG initially targeted 4-month intervals between leagues, the gap between 0.2 and 0.3 stretched to nearly 5 months. Key factors supporting a mid-late April launch include: avoiding overlap with the late February PoE 1 league launch to prevent rushing, the need for thorough polishing of the endgame overhaul, and coordination with other ARPG releases (e.g., Last Epoch in late March). Additionally, community predictions suggest 0.5.0 may include new campaign content (Act 5) or the new Templar class. Some players also speculate that the patch could add the Duelist class along with sword weapons, since the game director stated swords are desired for the 1.0 release. There’s also talk that 0.5.0 might launch the endgame rework during an ongoing league instead of after the league ends, breaking the traditional pattern of simultaneous league and major patch releases.
PoE 2 New Leagues & Seasonal Content Release Date
Leagues have followed a roughly 3-5 month cycle, the next PoE 2 league is expected to be released in mid-late April 2026 (coinciding with the 0.5.0 patch). However, to prioritize 1.0 progress, the developer may break the tradition of simultaneous league and major patch releases (e.g., launching the 0.5.0 endgame rework during an ongoing league). 2026 leagues will continue introducing unique mechanics: the 0.3 patch’s Abyssal mechanic was so popular it became core content, while the 0.4 temple-building mechanic received mixed reviews (criticized for poor endgame scaling). Community discussion suggests leagues may be scaled back in 2026 to focus on 1.0 preparation, though "more content is more content" remains the general sentiment. Players also emphasize the need for GGG to avoid rushing league releases (as some perceive 0.4 was rushed for the holiday season), prioritizing quality over tight timelines.
PoE 2 0.6.0 Patch Release Date (Predicted: August-September 2026)
The content of this patch is relatively flexible in community predictions. One view is that it will focus on adding new classes (such as Shadow or Marauder) and additional Ascendancy classes, along with possible adjustments to existing classes. Another prediction is that it may introduce the "Trial of the Ancestors" mechanic, which was previously delayed from the 0.3 patch and has not yet been released. Some players believe 0.6.0 could be a small-scale update with only one key feature (either an easy-to-develop class or a completed campaign act) to avoid overloading the team and ensure progress toward the 1.0 release.
PoE 2 New Classes & Ascendancy Updates in 2026
Unreleased Classes to Be Launched: Currently, 8 classes are available in Path of Exile 2, with 4 remaining: Duelist, Templar, Shadow, and Marauder. The game director has stated that 1.0 release does not require all 12 classes, but the team hopes to include swords (closely tied to the Duelist) by 1.0, making the Duelist highly likely to be launched in 2026. Community opinions are divided: some predict all 4 remaining classes will be released before 1.0 (especially since Templar is a fan-favorite iconic class, and releasing with 11/12 classes would be unsatisfactory), while others believe some classes may be postponed to post-1.0 updates to avoid rushed, placeholder Ascendancy designs.
Ascendancy Class Adjustments: Ascendancy classes still have gaps for some existing classes. The 0.4 patch added Druid and his Ascendancy, and 2026 updates will likely continue filling these gaps. The game director has acknowledged that 1.0 may not include all 36 Ascendancies (3 per class). Some predictions suggest new classes launched in 2026 will come with 2-3 Ascendancies, while others argue that to ensure quality, some Ascendancies may be temporary (relying on stat buffs and existing mechanics) and replaced with unique mechanics in post-1.0 updates.
PoE 2 Campaign Content Updates
The current campaign has 4 complete acts and a temporary Act 5. The 1.0 release requires a full campaign, so 2026 will focus on completing Acts 5 and 6. Community predictions indicate Acts 5 and 6 may be released in one patch (since Act 6 is half the size of other acts). Some believe they will be included in the 1.0 update, while others think Act 5 may launch in 0.5.0/0.6.0 and Act 6 in 1.0. The temporary Act 5 in the current version will be optimized into official content, and there’s ongoing discussion about adding a campaign skip function for players who have completed it once (to avoid repetition burnout), though this has not been confirmed by the developer.
PoE 2 1.0 Full Release Date
The game director stated he is "pretty confident" in a 2026 1.0 release but emphasized the game must be "a real banger" (high-quality). Community opinions vary: optimistic predictions place it around the 2026 holiday season or summer, while conservative views suggest it may slip to early 2027. A detailed fan-made timeline predicts 1.0 in April-May 2027, but this is not official. A key consensus among players is that 1.0 will not launch before the final campaign act (Act 6) is complete, with many expecting 1.0 to coincide with Act 6’s release for marketing purposes. Since 0.4 does not include Act 5, most estimates suggest 8-12 months (2-3 leagues) of development remain for Acts 5 and 6, placing 1.0 in late 2026 at the earliest. The core requirement for 1.0 is a complete campaign and polished endgame; full classes/ascendancies are not mandatory.
Key Changes at Full Release
The biggest change will be switching from early access to free-to-play (a major concern for players waiting to play with friends or try the game for free). Currently, the game requires purchasing a $30 USD Supporter Pack for Early Access, but the $30 cost is converted to in-game currency for buying quality-of-life stash tabs (a highly valued feature, as playing without premium stash tabs is widely considered cumbersome). Free weekends are offered at the start of each league (e.g., December 12-15, 2025, for the 0.4 update), but full release will open permanent free access. GGG maintains its "Ethical Microtransactions" philosophy—real money only buys cosmetic items (skins, skill effects) and stash tabs, with no pay-to-win elements. Notably, stash tabs purchased in PoE 1 will carry over to PoE 2, respecting long-time players’ investments. Additionally, 1.0 may add a new endgame boss (e.g., Arbiter) and optimize core systems like asynchronous trade. The developer has noted that early access already follows a "launch-style schedule" (regular seasons with MTX sales), making 1.0 more of a "marketing milestone" for some players, with the core difference being a complete campaign.